Local Government Finance Bill

AMENDMENTSTO BE MOVEDIN GRAND COMMITTEE[Supplementary to the Second Marshalled List]

Schedule 1

LORD MCKENZIE OF LUTON

LORD BEECHAM

45A*

Page 33, line 18, at end insert—

“( ) The regulations must not allow the calculation of the safety net threshold for any authority to be below 5 percent of its spending threshold for more than one year in five.”

Schedule 2

LORD MCKENZIE OF LUTON

LORD BEECHAM

54A*

Page 47, line 35, at beginning insert “Subject to subsection (1A),”

54B*

Page 47, line 40, at end insert—

“(1A) The Secretary of State must pay revenue support grant for any year in which the payment of central shares under paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 7B is greater than zero.”

After Clause 8

THE EARL OF LYTTON

70ZA*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Appeals: unified system

The Secretary of State shall by regulation provide for a unified system of appeals from the Valuation Tribunal on questions of liability and assessment (not being recovery of a debt) including a common basis of appeals to the Upper Tribunal (Lords Chamber) in relation to valuation, administration of national non-domestic rates, council tax and local support to council tax determination.”

70ZB*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Independence and neutrality of the valuation body

With effect from 1 April 2015 no agency or individual for the time being discharging the duties of a Valuation Officer under section 61 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 shall be under the administrative or financial control of a department of state or other authority which is also charged with the duty of setting the national non-domestic rate multiplier or receiving the funds or revenues raised by the billing and collection of a rate.”

70ZC*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Rental value

In the case of any hereditament where there is clear market evidence that the rental value at a given date is materially lower than an entry in the Local Rating List based on the antecedent valuation date, and the rent passing is lower than the entry in the said List, it shall constitute a material change of circumstances.”

Before Clause 9

THE EARL OF LYTTON

71A*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Electronic communication

The Secretary of State shall by regulation provide for the use of electronic means to communicate information regarding the level of a council tax demand.”

Clause 9

BARONESS SHERLOCK

BARONESS LISTER OF BURTERSETT

76A*

Page 5, line 31, at end insert—

“( ) In exercising its powers under section 1(2)(b), the authority must have regard to the impact of the scheme on carers in the area.”

After Clause 9

BARONESS HOLLIS OF HEIGHAM

79A*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Council tax discount: vulnerability

The Secretary of State shall issue guidance to all local authorities determining who shall be considered vulnerable for the purposes of eligibility for council tax discount.”

Schedule 4

LORD MCKENZIE OF LUTON

LORD BEECHAM

81A*

Page 58, line 32, at end insert—

“( ) Where the Secretary of State has agreed to make a payment on account in accordance with paragraph 26 of Schedule 7B, consideration shall also be given to the provision of additional funds for the council tax discount scheme.”

83A*

Page 60, line 18, at end insert—

“( ) If a local billing authority is subject to judicial review in respect of a failure to complete the steps set out in sub-paragraph 1 because of any delay in the issue of regulations or guidance, or in the coming into force of this paragraph, the Secretary of State shall reimburse the authority for any costs incurred in connection with such a review.”

After Clause 13

BARONESS HOLLIS OF HEIGHAM

93A*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Council tax reduction: disabled people

Nothing in this Act shall affect the current eligibility of disabled people to receive a reduction in their council tax liability through the disabled band reduction scheme.”

93B*

Insert the following new Clause—

“Additional council tax band

The Secretary of State shall consult with local authorities for the introduction of an additional higher band of council tax — “I” — in England, for dwellings with a 1991 property value of £420,000, at a tax rate relative to Band D of 21/9; or its 2013 equivalent.”